Out of three police reports that have been filed against Umno-linked newspaper Utusan Malaysia , two have been referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to determine whether further action is warranted against the publication.

bagan pinang by election nomination 031009 hishammuddin hussein Revealing this today, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein ( left ) said in a written reply in Parliament that investigations into one of the complaints lodged against Utusan was closed due to the absence of any criminal elements in the alleged misdeed.

“For the information of the honourable members of this august House, since the month of April 2009 until October 2010, three police reports have been made against Utusan Malaysia whereby two have been referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.

“One other case was closed because there was no element of criminality,” said Hishammuddin in his reply to DAP’s Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang.

Lim had asked for the number of police reports that had been lodged against Utusan since April 2009 and what steps had been taken by the police on the reports.

In July this year, Hishammuddin had also said the police had opened three investigation papers on Utusan following complaints against the paper.

As in the reply by Hishammuddin to Lim today, no details were furnished about the reports and action against Utusan .

Hisham said in the earlier reply that one case had been "referred to magistrate".